Sorry about the delay.

Yugi sat quietly in his room on his bed with Bakura, watching his roommate sleep. He debated going out a few times, but then the thief would shift in his sleep and Yugi would want to study him again. "Little one, stop staring at me," Bakura mumbled, startling the teen out of his thoughts.

"You're adorable when you sleep," Yugi teased, reaching out a hand to touch the tomb robber's cheek. He was met with a glare. "I'm not going to lie to you, Bakura."

Bakura sighed, closing his eyes again and leaning slightly into Yugi's touch. "You're the adorable one. The Pharaoh was a fool to leave you behind."

Mahogany gazed into heliotrope when Yugi's hand stilled. He pulled it away and set it on the bed, looking away and biting his bottom lip. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but he shut it again when he began to shake. A few moments later, he tried again.

"He was doing what was best… for both of us."

The thief snorted, moving closer to him and resting his head on Yugi's thigh. "He did what was best for himself. I would have stayed with someone as kind as you."

Yugi's sad look lightened a bit. "You did. You came back. I don't know if I thanked you for that, but-"

"No, little one." Bakura settled further into Yugi's warmth. "Don't thank me. Just... do that thing that you do." The hand that had left him started to stroke his hair. "Mm..."

The younger male allowed himself to smile slightly, running his fingers through white locks. "You're like a cat. A very scary, dangerous cat."

"Mm, my landlord made that comparison many times, through not out loud. I had to dig rather deep to get to those thoughts."

"Do you ever miss him?"

"Ryou?" Bakura scoffed, settling further into Yugi's embrace. "No, of course not. I treated him like shit. I only needed him for his body."

Yugi's hand applied a little more pressure. "Do you think Yami was like that? He only needed my body?"

The thief shook his head as best he could from his position. "I think he loved you with all his heart, and that made him run. He knows that neither of us belong in this time, and being 'all-mighty' and 'honorable', he decided to follow the rules."

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say, because Yugi pushed him away and sprinted from the room. "So can he come back?" he shouted from the living room, obviously looking for something. Bakura followed him over to some bookshelves, the contents of which were all named in hieroglyphs.

"I'm afraid that has to be his choice, little one. You can't force him into the mortal world. Even if you..." Bakura was surprised he had to force this out, "Love him."

"He was my life, Bakura," he whispered, giving up and falling to his knees. "I loved him more than anyone. I wanted to stay with him forever, but he... I..."

Kneeling in front of Yugi, the thief sighed heavily. "I'm sure he loved you too. But isn't it for the best, the ability to move on?'

Unthinkingly, Yugi said, "Not while you're here."

The tomb robber blinked a few times, but refused to show that he was hurt. "You said that you... had a bit of a crush on me, yes?" The smaller of the two turned bright red, nodding. "I'm not telling you to forget about your previous love, but maybe... you can try again?"

"I'm not going to blindly chase you, Bakura."

"I'm not saying you have to," Bakura murmured gently, bringing one hand up to cup Yugi's face and the other to rest on the small of his back and pull him closer. "I'll return your feelings." Before Yugi could comment, Bakura's lips were on his and whatever thoughts he had were gone.

Within moments, Yugi was on his back and the thief was straddling him. The kiss grew even more heated when the smaller released a moan; that insignificant sound only fueled Bakura's actions. He was careful to keep from touching Yugi more than necessary, lest he lose control completely and take him right there on the floor, but the sounds the younger male was making were taunting him and tearing at his self-control.

Drawing away was difficult, but he managed it. "No more, little one," he murmured, contradicting his words by pressing light kisses to Yugi's pale neck.

Violet eyes fluttered open, staring up at the ceiling, while slender fingers combed through Bakura's hair. "Bakura... Thank you." The thief didn't respond, lying beside Yugi on the cold wooden floor and resting his head on Yugi's chest. "Where would I be without you?"

"Living a much better life," Bakura said desolately. His mahogany eyes were dull as he stared up at Yugi. "I'm so sorry."

Yugi shook his head, smiling slightly. "Nothing to be sorry for, 'Kura. I've never been happier." Warm arms wrapped around Bakura's shoulders, holding him closer to the teen under him, and the steady rising and falling of Yugi's chest was like a lullaby.

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